Space.com
• Mike Wall
Two spacecraft operated by Impulse Space came within less than 650 feet of one another in orbit, showcasing what the company described as advanced capabilities. The maneuver highlights the growing role of commercial spacecraft in proximity operations, with implications for in-space servicing, inspection and other emerging orbital missions.
Commercial Space
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Two spacecraft operated by Impulse Space came within less than 650 feet of one another in orbit, showcasing what the company described as advanced capabilities. The maneuver highlights the growing role of commercial spacecraft in proximity operations, with implications for in-space servicing, inspection and other emerging orbital missions.
United Launch Alliance is preparing to resume Vulcan launches in the coming weeks, while financial pressure at the joint venture has renewed questions about whether its owners may ultimately seek a sale. The developments put Vulcan’s launch cadence and ULA’s longer-term corporate structure in focus.
High activity
The European Space Agency has signed an agreement with U.S. commercial space company Vast to implement an astronaut mission to the International Space Station for Greece. The agreement advances European participation in commercial human spaceflight as France calls for greater strategic autonomy in space.
Australian Earth-observation company LatConnect 60 has signed two strategic agreements in India covering satellite mission infrastructure and access to the country’s defense and geospatial-intelligence markets. Announced at the Bengaluru Space Expo 2026, the deals support the company’s expansion of its SWIRSAT business in India.
A SpaceX executive confirmed that the next Starship flight will carry its first orbital payloads, including Starlink satellites. The mission is expected to advance the company’s direct-to-device connectivity ambitions and provide an initial testbed for future orbital data-center concepts.
French launch provider MaiaSpace has secured its first long-term Asian customer agreement with Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS), which plans to use the company to launch a range of synthetic-aperture radar satellites. The deal gives MaiaSpace an anchor customer as it builds its commercial launch business.
Eutelsat has placed major satellite orders with Airbus and Aerospacelab to support service continuity for its OneWeb constellation and Europe’s IRIS² secure-connectivity network. The commitments link commercial broadband operations with Europe’s emerging sovereign space communications infrastructure.
Katalyst Space’s LINK spacecraft reached NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory but was unable to complete the planned mission to boost the observatory’s orbit. LINK remains operational, allowing the spacecraft to continue conducting operations despite the failed rescue attempt.
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